The only way anyone will knock WoW out is if they understand WoW. Brad McQuaid didn't understand WoW. The previous poster "Angel" doesn't understand WoW. Other want-to-be WoW successors have not and do not understand WoW either.

I have played most major MMOs since EQ1. I have followed the development of other MMOs drooling over promises only to be disappointed each time as these MMOs released and others (even recently) have been cancelled.

I now find myself happily playing WoW after all these years, finally understanding WoW. I don't want to try and explain everything I am talking about with WoW (it would take more time than I have or than you would probably care to read), however the bottom line comes down to solid core game mechanics and over-all quality. If you don't have these at the very least, your finished as an MMO. I will also add, that even though most of the active MMO community (which don't equal the vast majority of MMO players) hate PvP, the bottom line is, if your MMO doesn't embrace PvP as an end game alternative your MMO is finished (at least in terms of competing with WoW, not in terms of holding a niche market and making a profit).

WoW has a snowball effect going for them now that will prove to be very difficult to thwart. And to that I say, "Oh, well" I am finally having fun in an MMO and not wishing another MMO were finished. (I am also in the beta for Warhammer, so I know what I am talking about).

Cheers.